Metal-free atom transfer radical polymerization with ppm catalyst loading under sunlight
Ma Qiang, Jinshuai Song, Xun Zhang, Yu Jiang, Ji Li, Saihu Liao
Abstract
Abstract Organocatalytic atom transfer radical polymerization (O-ATRP) is recently emerging as an appealing method for the synthesis of metal-free polymer materials with well-defined microstructures and architectures. However, the development of highly effective catalysts that can be employed at a practical low loading are still a challenging task. Herein, we introduce a catalyst design logic based on heteroatom-doping of polycyclic arenes, which leads to the discovery of oxygen-doped anthanthrene (ODA) as highly effective organic photoredox catalysts for O-ATRP. In comparison with known organocatalysts, ODAs feature strong visible-light absorption together with high molar extinction coefficient (ε 455nm up to 23,950 M –1 cm –1 ), which allow for the establishment of a controlled polymerization under sunlight at low ppm levels of catalyst loading.